Where To Look For Leaks In Your Home

While the reality that a large flooding incident is the result of water damage done to your home is all too real, the much more common occurrence of water damage comes as a result of small leaks that cause water damage to accumulate over time. If you can stay on top of preventing water leaks in your home, you can be confident of preventing the vast majority of water damage that could happen to your home. At Challis Restoration in the Cedar Rapids area, our restoration professionals deal with water damage cleanup day in and day out and most of these incidents are preventable. Below are details about the areas of your home that are most likely to leak and what you can do to prevent this from happening.

Water Heaters

A large proportion of water damage failures are brought on by an initial small leak. Typically, this type of failure occurs between 10-15 years of having the water heater. If you stay on top of recognizing any leaks your water heater can last much longer. To identify a leak in your water heater, you should remove the drain pipe and listen for a hissing sound. If you don’t hear any hissing sound, you can also look for a puddle underneath the tank.

Toilets

Toilets are always a potential source of flooding and require constant monitoring. They can do this by clogging and overflowing and seeping water around the seal in the floor. If you notice either of these things happening, you should turn off your water immediately. Another important note with your toilets is that they can be prone to run constantly and wastewater. This won’t necessarily lead to a flood, but it will save you money on your water bill if you catch it early.

Air Ducts

Because they are connected to the air conditioning unit, it is common for moisture to accumulate within the ductwork and spring a leak. If you notice any condensation on the air registers or ducts themselves, you may find a leak in another area

Sinks And Showers

Not surprisingly, your sinks and showers are a common source of water damage. Holes in the water damage supply line or worn-out caulking are the most likely causes of this.

Washing Machines

During each cycle, there are about 15 to 30 gallons of water running through the washing machine. Any small hole within the appliance, drain, or tubes can result in major water damage.

Water Pipes

Especially in the winter time, pipe bursts are extremely common as the water expands and adds more pressure to stressed pipes. Be sure to inspect each one thoroughly for any drips or small holes.

Don’t let your home be unnecessarily subjected to water damage by leaks that you can prevent or at least notice early. Keeping a close eye on everything in your home will go a long way towards keeping your home water damage free. Nonetheless, if you do find your home affected by water damage, our restoration professionals at Challis Restoration in Cedar Rapids are here to help you with all your water damage cleanup needs.